Up until recently, we had high expectations for Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge processors. What kind of expectations? Improved graphics, lower TDP, better clock for clock performance, and of course better overclocking ability.

Lately however, it seems like rumors of the new processors have taken a turn for the worse. A couple days ago we saw rumors that the i7 3770K was a worse overclocker (on air) than the current generation Sandy Bridge processors and today, we’re seeing leaked images of the i7 3770K with the box specifications listing the processor at a 95w TDP. Since we were expecting the i7 3770K to be introduced with a TDP of 77w, a 95w TDP is quite a big jump and isn’t an upgrade at all from the current generation Intel Core i7 2600K.

Why the big jump in TDP and worse overclocking performance? Well, rumors are floating around that this is due to Intel’s new 22nm process and their use of the new Tri-gate transistors. Because Tri-gate transistors are in the most basic terms, transistors flipped on their side, Intel is able to cram a whole lot more transistors into a single die. Unfortunately, due to the amount of transistors being packed on the die itself, it seems like the heat produced is being trapped and isn’t dissipating properly, which is why the new processors are such terrible overclockers.

As we all know, companies do tend to have issues when moving to newer, smaller manufacturing processes and it seems like Intel is having some issues here considering their chips clearly have not met target. However, this will probably change as Intel improves their manufacturing process.

Does this issue only affect the overclocking k versions or will it be an issue across all Ivy Bridge CPU’s regardless of k, s, t, etc. ?

http://www.custompcreview.com/ Sam Chen

Not sure yet, but I’ve seen rumors that only the K editions have a higher rated TDP. I haven’t seen any box pictures yet though.

Project Genesis

AMD COMEBACK.

m3kw

Uh, because these are fake chips, and you know how some people don’t know all the details so they copy some of Sandy Bridge’s numbers.

http://www.custompcreview.com/ Sam Chen

Fake box? Possibly. Fake chip? Probably not. Not very many people have the engineering or manufacturing capability to create fake Intel processors. That’d be quite a very serious problem for Intel. Either way, it’s being rumored that the K edition processors will have 95w TDP boxes, but the processors themselves will be 77w. Course, we’ll see in a couple days.

m3kw

You really think Intel will screw up that much when they have world class testing facilities and engineers making sure the values are correct? Is like saying the 22nm chips were later found to be 32nm because of some boo boo Intel have made during the final test. Use some brains.